Main Navigation

Climate Change and Your Garden

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) recently launched a collaborative pilot project at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Their goal is to increase awareness about the effects of climate change by implementing educational programs at public gardens. Some of these implementations include maps that show the effects of temperature change on specific planting zones, and recordings of NOAA climate scientists discussing the impacts of climate change. Paul Redman, the director of Longwood Gardens states, “There is telling evidence that climate change is affecting plant life around the world and here at Longwood.” Some global warming affects reported in the U.S include earlier bloom times, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and differing species distribution. With 70 million people visiting North American public gardens each year, Redman, NOAA and APGA administrators believe Longwood Gardens, and other public gardens, have the potential to become effective educational venues.